How Wikipedia Can Overcome the Great Firewall of China

Oil is the main insulation in power transformers and over long time of ageing its insulation properties can change. In this paper ageing of oil due to the exposure to electric discharges was investigated. The effect of high energy discharges (complete arc) and low energy discharges (partial discharges) on oil properties such as breakdown strength and oil conductivity was investigated. An experimental setup consisting of two spherical electrodes was designed. The adjustable distance between the two electrodes made it possible to have PD with different magnitude. The oil conductivity and breakdown strength was measured for three sets of experiments. The first group of experiments was performed on new oil in order to have a reference for comparison. In the second group of experiments the new oil samples was exposed to 1000 and 3000 lightning impulses. In the third group of experiments new oil samples was exposed to partial discharge for different duration of time. Oil conductivity and breakdown strength of these aged samples were compared with new oil. The results show that after exposure to lightning impulse oil conductivity increases and breakdown strength decreases, However PD activity for short time does not change the oil conductivity but it reduces the breakdown strength.QC 20140107</p

Sustainable energy performances of green buildings: a review of current theories, implementations and challenges

This study targets to elucidate the essence of sustainability in green building design implementations. In this regard, the study draws attention to the sustainable energy performances of green buildings to identify the influential parameters based upon the contemporary successful accomplishments. The study elaborates on the contemporary trends and applications of green building design and the respective impacts on sustainable developments. As a result, the analytical review confirms that the sustainable energy performance of green buildings has been transformed to a sensible and practical resolution to alleviate the CO2 emissions and diminish the building sector energy consumption. In addition, with view to the current challenges and barriers, the study concludes that; it is still crucial to identify and develop efficient energy solutions associated with green buildings for addressing the future energy demands. Likewise, the findings highlight that the sustainable energy performances associated with integrated technologies and renewable energy systems are still intertwined with significant challenges related to the fundamental parameters of cost, maintenance, and operation. In conclusion, the contemplations of the research findings are recommended to be taken into consideration by architects, engineers and developers for the development of future eco-cities with an explicit viewpoint towards developing greener and smarter built environments

BOK-Printed Electronics

The use of printed electronics technologies (PETs), 2D or 3D printing approaches either by conventional electronic fabrication or by rapid graphic printing of organic or nonorganic electronic devices on various small or large rigid or flexible substrates, is projected to grow exponentially in commercial industry. This has provided an opportunity to determine whether or not PETs could be applicable for low volume and high-reliability applications. This report presents a summary of literature surveyed and provides a body of knowledge (BOK) gathered on the current status of organic and printed electronics technologies. It reviews three key industry roadmaps- on this subject-OE-A, ITRS, and iNEMI-each with a different name identification for this emerging technology. This followed by a brief review of the status of the industry on standard development for this technology, including IEEE and IPC specifications. The report concludes with key technologies and applications and provides a technology hierarchy similar to those of conventional microelectronics for electronics packaging. Understanding key technology roadmaps, parameters, and applications is important when judicially selecting and narrowing the follow-up of new and emerging applicable technologies for evaluation, as well as the low risk insertion of organic, large area, and printed electronics

Adaptation of Social Network Analysis for Facilitating Spatial Diagramming During Architectural Conceptual Design Phase

Designers have difficulty visualizing the end results of the projects during the initial architectural conceptual design phase. This research introduces a computational tool—Social Network Analysis (SNA)—commonly used in the communications field to study relationships between people for solving this visualization problem. The research intent was to affirm whether or not SNA can be utilized as a spatial planning tool during conceptual building design. The author posits that since the nodes and structural relationships between the nodes may have similar architectural characteristics, the tool would enable architects to make changes by moving any spaces on a floor plan while safely maintaining their spatial relationships to other spaces. In this research, the author developed a proof-of-concept model using an available SNA tool to facilitate spatial diagramming visualization during conceptual design phase. This study, tested the use of the SNA tool at four levels. The first level determined whether spatial relationship between functional spaces could be developed (such as the living room must be adjacent to the front entry). The second level was on setting priority values for the different nodes and the linkages. The third level determined whether this study could develop grouping relationships between several functional spaces that have a common characteristic (such as public versus private spaces) on one horizontal plan. The final fourth level determined whether the author could develop multiple layers (such as multi floors) that are connected by one common connector (such as a staircase in a double-story house). The corresponding models are validated intellectually by visual comparison between the simulated model of this study and another diagramming by (Nooshin, 2001) that was developed manually. The author is most interested in the fourth level because complexity in the spatial diagramming exercises is caused by multi-layered spatial arrangements at the horizontal and vertical planes. This study provided guidelines in developing a prototype for a spatial diagramming tool, which architects can use to resolve visualization problems when conducting the architectural spatial diagramming

The essence of future smart houses: from embedding ICT to adapting to sustainability principles

In the context of intelligent environments, the smart houses are often pointed as one of the main constituents of smarter living environments. This study attempts to theoretically analyze case models of smart houses in order to identify their essence and characteristics. The results show that the most significant intelligent values embodied in smart houses embrace technologies of the functional automation. In fact, smart houses are substantially intertwined with integrated ICT technologies which aim to ensure comfortable living environments. Despite the identified challenges, the proliferation of smart houses into urban areas requires an integration of them in the city for creating intelligent environments. As a result, the promotion and integration of smart houses with other smarter elements of cities could archive a significant enhancement of the quality of life and a stronger urban sustainability

Advanced X ray Astrophysics Facility-Imaging (AXAF-I) thermal analyses using Integrated Thermal Analysis System (ITAS) program

The complex geometry and stringent thermal requirements associated with the Advanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility - Imaging (AXAF-I) necessitate a detailed and accurate thermal analysis of the proposed system. A brief description of said geometry and thermal requirements is included. Among the tools considered for the aforementioned analysis is a PC-compatible version of the Integrated Thermal Analysis System (ITAS). Several bench-mark studies were performed to evaluate the capabilities of ITAS and to compare the corresponding results with those obtained using TRASYS and SINDA. Comparative studies were conducted for a typical Space Station module. Four models were developed using various combinations of the available software packages (i.e. ITAS, SINDA, and TRASYS). Orbital heating and heat transfer calculations were performed to determine the temperature distributions along the surfaces of this module. A comparison of the temperature distributions obtained for each of the four cases is presented. Results of this investigation were used to verify the different ITAS modules including those used for model generation, steady state and transient orbital heating analyses, radiative and convective heat flow analyses, and SINDA/TRASYS model translation. The results suggest that ITAS is well suited to subsequent analyses of the AXAF-I